In March, Jose Mourinho took advantage of an international break to take a trip to Croatia.
His arrival in the country was huge, with the media falling over themselves to cover every last detail. TV, radio, and the major newspapers all went with the theory Manchester United must be trying to sign a Croatia international.
Mourinho’s apparent Alan Carr disguise didn’t fool anyone.
24Sata newspaper gave it a full page, and said: ‘He landed at 11.15 in a private plane and went to a Zagreb hotel. The famous Jose Mourinho, the third time he came to 
Zagreb, this time because of Ivan Perisic.’
Mourinho speaking to Inter Milan’s Perisic ‘face to face’ was used as an indication that negotiations were at their ‘final stage’, because the Manchester United manager wouldn’t have bothered otherwise.
The price was estimated at €40-50m, and 24Sata said Perisic was ‘expected’ to move to Old Trafford.
It was soon picked up in Italy, where the price was pushed to €60m.
In April, Gazzetta dello Sport had a big feature saying Manchester United were prepared to pay that €60m fee, and get Mourinho his man, although it seemed a high price for a 28 year old.
Just over a week ago, Gazzetta reported that Manchester United aren’t actually prepared to pay €60m, but would rather negotiations started at around the €40m figure.
PSG were also credited with an interest, and given the advantage, because of Inter’s wish to get any of Marquinhos, Angel Di Maria, or Grzegorz Krychowiak as part of a deal.
Inter’s director of football Piero Ausilio was said to be about to fly to Paris and London for talks with the two interested clubs.
That nicely leads up to an article from Italy’s Premium Sport on Saturday, who say Perisic has chosen Manchester United. That decision dates back to the meeting in March, which again ties things together nicely.
The potential transfer fee is put at €45m plus bonus, which would fit in with the original Croatian claims, and the latest Gazzetta report on Manchester United wanting to start talks at €40m.
Perisic’s Manchester United rumour timeline also fits in with Mourinho’s recent Ed Woodward comments. When quizzed on signings, Mourinho revealed he told Woodward in March what he wanted, so there’d be no need for panic.
Ivan Perisic’s role for Inter Milan this season has been as an attacking midfielder on the left, and the Croatian has scored 10 goals and made seven assists.
